Diplomatic Immunity

Orioles 2, Reds 0 : Him In His – Ubaldo Jimenez locks in the zone & shows his good side, pitching 7 2/3 shutout innings, he walks 4 & strikes out 3, allowing just 2 hits. He is in complete control all night, giving the Orioles staff a huge boost & giving Jimenez some much needed confidence. Ubaldo makes quick​ work of the Reds lineup, pitching a gem for the O’s after Kevin Gausman’s rough outing in Game 1. 2B Jonathan Schoop drives in a run on a single in the 2nd off of the Reds young lefty Amir Garrett, who strikes out 12 Orioles in 7 innings, he allows 2 runs on 7 hits, walking just 1. Ubaldo simply out pitches the young lefty & Manny Machado adds a sacfly in the 5th to give him a much needed insurance run. Brad Brach works the 9th to close it out, as closer Zach Britton sits on the 10 DL right now.
The Orioles split the first 2 games in Cincinnati, the rubber game was tonight.
Bal (9-4) Cin (9-6)
WP : Jimenez (1-0)
LP : Garrett (2-1)
S : Brach (1).
GO O’S!! #InterleagueScuffling

Reds 9, Orioles 3 : Seeing Red – Kevin Gausman is pounded for 8 runs on 8 hits in just 2 2/3 innings, including allowing a Grand Slam to left by Reds LF Adam Duvall (#4) in a 5-run 5th inning as Cincinnati pulls it out & destroys the Orioles in Game 1. Duvall drives in 5 runs in the game, adding a sacfly in the 1st as well. C Tucker Barnhart doubles in the final run of the 5th for the Reds & Joey Votto adds a 2-run shot to right (#4) in the 3rd to make it 9-1 Cincinnati. Gausman exits & is replaced by LHP Vidal Nuno, he walks 3 & strikes out 2. Cincinnati starter Bronson Arroyo goes a decent 5 innings, he allows 3 runs on 5 hits, he walks 2 & strikes out 4. Jonathan Schoop drives in a run on an single in the 2nd & Adam Jones hits a 2-run shot to left (#3) in the 5th, that would be it. The 40 year old Arroyo wins for the first time since June 15, 2014, missing the last 2 seasons w/ Tommy John surgery.
Bal (8-4) Cin (9-5)
WP : Arroyo (1-2)
LP : Gausman (1-1).
GO O’S!! #InterleagueShowdown

Orioles 11, Blue Jays 4 : He’s the Mancini – Trey Mancini hits a pair of longballs & the O’s go deep 4 times as a team to rout the Jays & take 3 out of 4 in Toronto. Mancini hits a 3-run shot (#3) in the 6th to make it 4-0 O’s & give starter Dylan Bundy some added run support. J.J. Hardy doubles home Jonathan Schoop & OF Craig Gentry adds a sacfly in a 5-run 6th to make it 6-0. Mancini hits a solo shot (#4), Gentry hits a 2-run shot (#1) & Manny Machado adds another 2-run blast (#2) to make it 11-2 in a 5-run 8th inning. Dylan Bundy tosses 6 shutout innings, allowing just 5 hits, he walks 1 & strikes out 6.
Mancini finishes 3 for 5 with four RBI, matching the major league record for home runs in the first 12 games of a career with 7, joining Trevor Story and Dino Restelli. Kevin Pillar hits a 3-run shot (#1) in the 9th for the Blue Jays to make it 11-4.
Baltimore is now 5-1 against Toronto so far.
Bal (8-3) Tor (2-10)
WP : Bundy (2-1)
LP : Happ (0-3).
GO O’S!! #BirdFightRoundSix

This can be a decent debate. Their careers actually did intertwine for five years (84-89). By the time Jordan got to the league, Jabbar had won his six league titles. Jordan took over (sort of) to start his own six year title run.

In the case of these two, timing was truly everything. When Jabbar entered the league, he basically did the same thing that he did both in high school and college: have a impact. He became a top three star (in scoring and rebounding) and after future Hall – of – Famer Oscar Robinson came over, he won the first of his championships. He easily could have been the face of a still fledging league that was still trying to get it’s sea legs.

With Jordan, it was a case of spontaneous combustion. He entered the league at a time when the league was creating it’s identity (led by the Godfather of the league –David Stern). With the help of his swag (which wasn’t really a popular word at the time but you get it) and his boy at the time Charles Barkley, they took the league to an entirely different level in terms of popularity and well, commercialism.

I can see why some would make a case for Jordan. He helped bring the bright lights to the league as well as make it the popular game that it still is. Now, while I won’t make the connection that Jabbar was the Mike before Mike (in part because he didn’t want to be), you can not deny his career achievements as well as his consistency. He was still averaging 23 points a game at age 38. While you have organizations like ESPN having him the greatest player in league history (ahead of Jordan), for me I still like Mike.

I still remember a dream I had when I was getting ready to play my dream pickup game with the greatest players in NBA history and I had first pick. It wasn’t any doubt who my first pick was.

#3 Wizards vs #6 Hawks Preview :
Washington won the Southeast Conference, their first Division title in 38 years. Atlanta makes it in, due to their hard play, staying relevant enough the entire season.
Key matchup : PG John Wall vs PG Dennis Schroeder.
John Wall is one of the NBA’s most explosive G’s & wastes no time finding his teammates, Dennis Schroeder is a formidable opponent, one who can present problems & create for Atlanta.
Washington simply has too many scorers, Wall, Bradley Beal, Otto Porter, Brandon Jennings, Markieff Morris & Kelly Oubre. Marcin Gortat will be a factor inside. Can Atlanta match the physical presence upfront by Washington? The answer is No.
The Hawks do have Paul Millsap, but after him & Dennis Schroder there is alot to be desired by the Hawks in terms of being able to keep up w/ Washington’s scoring.
My prediction : Wizards in 5. Washington should quickly dismiss of the Hawks, a this team has their eyes on the prize. The Washington Wizards wanna go to the NBA Finals.
The Atlanta Hawks will be sitting home in a few weeks. There just is not enough firepower in this Hawks team right now..

Blue Jays 2, Orioles 1 : Bird Blast – Kendrys Morales hits a walk off solo homer to right center as the Jays win in extras in Toronto. It spoils an outstanding effort by starter Alec Asher, who goes 6 1/3 shutout innings in his Orioles debut. Asher allows just 1 run on 3 hits, he strikes out 5 & walks 1. Asher hits Jose Bautista & allows a single to Troy Tulowitzki before leaving in the 7th w/ 2 men on. Darwin Barney singles off of reliever Donnie Hart to score Bautista & put the Blue Jays ahead 1-0 in the 7th. Roberto Osuna comes on in the 9th to close it out, but allows an infield single to C Wellington Castillo, as OF Craig Gentry runs for Castillo & steals 2nd, moves up on a sacfly & scores on a sacfly by Jonathan Schoop as the O’s manufacture a run to tie it. Then in the bottom of the 9th, Morales walks it off (#2) against reliever Tyler Wilson to give the Jays their first win in the last 8 games.
Bal (7-3) Tor (2-9)
WP : Osuna (1-0)
LP : Wilson (1-1).
GO O’S!! #BirdFightRoundFive

Orioles 2, Blue Jays 1 : Pitching a Fit – In a tightly contested pitchers duel, Kevin Gausman gets just enough run support & the O’s win already win their fourth 1 run game of the year. The Birds score twice in the 5th against Jays starter Francisco Liriano, as Jonathan Schoop doubles to center to drive in C Wellington Castillo & scores on a single by J.J. Hardy to make it 2-0 Orioles. Liriano strikes out 10, as the Jays lefty was on his game, despite a bad 5th inning. He goes 6 2/3, allowing 2 runs on 5 hits, he walks 2. Gausman is just as dominant, going 6 innings, allowing 1 run on 5 hits, he walks 2 & strikes out 3. Zach Britton closes it out in the 9th for his 54th consecutive Save in a row. The Orioles have now defeated the Blue Jays for the third time in a row this year & their 6-2 record is all against the AL East. Baltimore is off to a strong start & sits all alone in 1st place.
Bal (6-2) Tor (1-8)
WP : Gausman (1-0)
LP : Liriano (0-1)
S : Britton (4). GO O’S!! #BirdFightRoundThree

Orioles 12, Red Sox 5 : Deep Impact – The Orioles go deep 5 times, as Trey Mancini hits a pair of longballs, connecting on a solo shot (#1) & is followed up by Jonathan Schoop (#1) as the pair goes back to back in a 6-run 1st inning, all against Red Sox knuckleballer Steven Wright. Manny Machado also doubles home the first run of the game in the inning. Adam Jones tees off against Wright in the 2nd (#2) on a mammoth shot to left & Chris Davis also takes Wright deep to right center. (#2) to make it 8-0 after 2. Mancini homers for the second time (#2) in the 3rd to make it 9-0, but Ubaldo Jimenez can’t even make it through 5 innings & is pulled after just 4 1/3. He allows 5 runs on 8 hits, walking 2 & striking out just 1. C Wellington Castillo doubles to right in the 7th & scores on a base hit by Schoop to cap the scoring. Baltimore splits the short 2 game series in Boston & will now head to Toronto for 4.
Bal (5-2) Bos (4-4)
WP : Givens (2-0)
LP : Wright (0-1).
GO O’S!! #BlastingOff

Red Sox 8, Orioles 1 : Boston Baked Birds – The Red Sox break the game open in a 4-run 7th inning & add 2 more in the 8th to coast on to the win @ Fenway. 2B Jonathan Schoop misplays a pop up that bounces off his foot & SS J.J. Hardy commits a crucial error on a doubleplay ball in the 7th, which loads the bases & then Dustin Pedroia drives in 2 on a single back up the middle that deflects off of Hardy’s glove to make it 4-1. Pedroia drives in 4 runs in the the game. Red Sox starter Drew Pomeranz pitches 6 innings, allowing 1 run on 4 hits, he walks 3 & strikes out 4. C Christian Vasquez goes 4-4 w/ a double & a triple, he drives in 2, he also scores twice & steals a base. He triples home 2 in the 8th to seal the game. Dylan Bundy pitches 6 1/3 innings, allowing 3 runs on 7 hits, he strikes out 3 & walks 2. The Orioles have now dropped 2 in a row after starting out 4-0. Game 2 is tonight from Fenway.
Bal (4-2) Bos (4-3)
WP : Pomeranz (1-0)
LP : Bundy (1-1).
GO O’S!! #BeantownBeatdown